Scottish Executive

Cancer

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it adheres to the recommended maximum wait of four weeks from urgent referral by a GP for radiotherapy treatment and how many patients waited longer than four weeks for radiotherapy treatment, broken down by cancer type, from 1998 to 2003, expressed also as a percentage of the number of patients.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally in the format requested.

  Standards for good practice, including waiting times, have been published by the Joint Collegiate Council for Oncology. The Scottish Executive’s target for all cancers is that there will be a maximum wait of two months from urgent referral to treatment by 2005.

Cancer

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cancer scans took place annually from 1995 to 2003 and whether it has any plans to increase the number of such scans taking place.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information is not held centrally in the format requested.

  A number of tests and investigations can be carried out to confirm or otherwise a cancer diagnosis. These tests can include computerised tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, both of which are used to help diagnose and assess many different conditions including cancer.

Cancer

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median waiting times are for cancer treatment, broken down by cancer type and NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information is not currently held centrally in the format requested.

Cancer

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many magnetic resonance imaging scanners there have been in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally in the format requested. However, provisional data from 2003 suggests there were 26 magnetic resonance imaging scanners in place across Scotland.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards can access any of the funds allocated for personal care for elderly people to meet the need for specialist and general care in podiatry.

Malcolm Chisholm: No. The funds allocated for personal and nursing care are linked to the provision of services by or for local authorities not to services provided by the NHS which are already free at the point of delivery.

Central Heating Programme

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for its central heating programme have been approved and subsequently cancelled due to the applications not meeting the qualifying criteria.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Eaga Partnership, who administer the programme on behalf of the Scottish Executive, have indicated that, to the end of March 2004, 30 applications have been approved and subsequently cancelled due to the applicants not meeting the eligibility criteria. In that period a total of 19,259 systems were installed by Eaga.

Central Heating Programme

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of home visits has been by (a) an engineer and (b) a surveyor prior to the approval of an application under its central heating programme.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Eaga Partnership, who administer the programme on behalf of the Scottish Executive, have indicated that:

  Every application, that appears eligible from the information contained in the application form, receives a home visit from an Eaga approved assessor.

  Up to 31 March 2004, 3,540 applicants to the programme have received a home visit from an Eaga approved engineer where specific technical issues arose regarding installation.

Central Heating Programme

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the regulations governing its central heating programme and, if so, whether it has any plans to allow mobile homes to qualify for the programme.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The programme is kept under constant review. However, at this stage there are no plans to allow mobile homes to qualify for the programme.

Central Heating Programme

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures have been put in place to prevent people being accepted for the central heating programme and subsequently being advised that they do not meet the initial qualifying criteria.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The central heating programme is administered by Eaga Partnership on behalf of the Scottish Executive. Eaga’s processes to determine eligibility comprise:

  All application and other forms set out the eligibility criteria.

  All application and other forms are examined by trained staff to determine if applicants comply with the eligibility criteria.

  Home surveys are carried out in 100% of applications, by trained staff, to determine eligibility.

  All staff have received training and guidance on the programme eligibility criteria.

  These processes and procedures are monitored and reviewed on a regular basis.

Drug Misuse

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5817 by Hugh Henry on 10 February 2004, what funding, under the drugs strand of the Changing Children's Services Fund, was spent on drug treatment or rehabilitation services or both in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Hugh Henry: The response given on the 10 February details the funding from the Changing Children’s Services Fund to support drug related work with young people and their families, which is allocated through local authorities. Few authorities are coterminous with NHS board areas therefore it is not possible to provide this information by NHS board area. The response also provides a breakdown of the allocation to each local authority from 2001 to 2003, the period for which this information is available.

  This funding is allocated to each local authority for specific projects and we do not hold information centrally that would allow us to break down each allocation to the detail requested. Indeed, each project is unique and may cover one or more drug-related problems targeted at very different groups.

Education

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to education authorities on the phasing out of subject principal teacher posts in secondary schools.

Peter Peacock: Staffing structures and the role of subject principal teachers in schools are matters for each local authority to determine.

Emergency Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will review the decision on the provision of accident and emergency services in greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: During the debate on the Acute Services Review (Glasgow) on 12 September 2002, I supported a commitment from Greater Glasgow NHS Board that a review of the accident and emergency services would take place in two years time involving staff, patient and community groups, Glasgow Health Council and the Scottish Royal Colleges. This will take place over the summer and the outcome of that review will be reported to the NHS board for consideration in the autumn. The review will focus on the robustness and appropriateness of the decision relating to accident and emergency services in Glasgow and will test if the decision taken by the NHS board in 2002 remains appropriate.

Enterprise

Mike Watson (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why retail is not recognised as one of the 10 priority sectors within Round 4 of the Scottish Skills Fund.

Lewis Macdonald: The decision on priority sectors was taken following advice from the enterprise networks and Futureskills Scotland. Under Round 4 of the Scottish Skills Fund all sectors were eligible to apply. The enterprise networks are working closely with Skillsmart, the Sector Skills Council for the retail sector.

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the losses made by Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd have cost the Executive in addition to the normal level of subsidy.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has, to date, committed a further £14.75 million in support of the services.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned at the 86% decline in white fish landings to Clyde ports between 1987 and 2001 and what measures, other than those already taken, it will take to address the situation

Ross Finnie: Landings of whitefish into the Clyde ports (defined as those creeks from Campbeltown to Stranraer but not including Crinan, Islay, Tayinloan and Tayvallich) have declined by 81%.

  

 Year Landed
 Total Tonnage


 1987
 7,992


 1988
 8,603


 1989
 7,593


 1990
 6,099


 1991
 6,600


 1992
 5,480


 1993
 5,614


 1994
 4,598


 1995
 4,219


 1996
 3,618


 1997
 2,184


 1998
 2,870


 1999
 3,175


 2000
 1,761


 2001
 1,496



  The decline in whitefish landings to Clyde ports has been caused by the low levels of whitefish stocks. The Scottish Executive is already working constructively with the Commission and other members of the EU to develop recovery plans to raise whitefish stock levels.

General Practitioners

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP Registrars it estimates there will be in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.

Malcolm Chisholm: No targets have yet been set for GP Registrar numbers in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Planning for general practitioner numbers will be taken forward as part of the wider primary care workforce planning process, in the light of the new GMS contract. The results of this will feed into the National Workforce Committee.

  Any significant variation from the current level of around 280 GP Registrars will be considered carefully in the light of forecast needs and available resources.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many in-patient and day cases were treated in hospital in each quarter since June 1999 and how many had been waiting as patients (a) on the deferred waiting list and (b) with a guarantee exception code/availability code, broken down by NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the number of in-patient and day case discharges, and the number admitted from the deferred waiting list during each quarter since June 1999 is provided in the table.

  The deferred waiting list was abolished on 1 April 2003.

  Information on the number of patients who held a guarantee exception/availability status code and were discharged following in-patient and day case treatment is not collected centrally.

  NHSScotland: Number of In-Patient and Day Case Discharges and Admissions from the Deferred Waiting List by NHS Board of Residence in Each Quarter Since 30 June 1999

  

 Discharges During 
  Quarter Ended
 NHS Board of Residence
 In-Patients
 Day 
  Cases
 In-Patients 
  Admitted from Deferred Waiting List
 Day 
  Cases Admitted from Deferred Waiting List


 30-Jun-99
 Argyll and Clyde
 18,125
 7,343
 418
 877


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,353
 8,238
 465
 289


 Borders
 4,459
 2,069
 73
 61


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,962
 2,863
 81
 72


 Fife
 12,694
 9,004
 175
 194


 Forth Valley
 9,297
 4,809
 322
 275


 Grampian
 21,163
 6,736
 692
 458


 Greater Glasgow
 38,940
 17,112
 748
 448


 Highland
 9,279
 3,010
 351
 251


 Lanarkshire
 22,134
 12,941
 536
 448


 Lothian
 26,962
 15,014
 562
 329


 Orkney Islands
 783
 189
 21
 3


 Shetland Islands
 871
 350
 45
 18


 Tayside
 16,453
 7,939
 147
 206


 Western Isles
 1,404
 425
 44
 18


 Scotland
 203,879
 98,042
 4,680
 3,947


 30-Sep-99
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,746
 7,433
 404
 946


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,085
 8,451
 499
 372


 Borders
 4,221
 1,987
 65
 47


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,840
 2,992
 109
 101


 Fife
 13,201
 9,425
 152
 203


 Forth Valley
 9,746
 4,960
 340
 293


 Grampian
 21,165
 6,957
 733
 488


 Greater Glasgow
 39,119
 16,642
 878
 432


 Highland
 9,116
 3,052
 341
 257


 Lanarkshire
 21,582
 12,918
 657
 451


 Lothian
 26,893
 15,768
 559
 314


 Orkney Islands
 733
 190
 13
 2


 Shetland Islands
 892
 323
 47
 15


 Tayside
 15,819
 7,939
 151
 137


 Western Isles
 1,392
 431
 32
 29


 Scotland
 202,550
 99,468
 4,980
 4,087


 31-Dec-99
 Argyll and Clyde
 18,184
 7,376
 428
 883


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,235
 8,356
 446
 418


 Borders
 4,350
 2,145
 71
 71


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,050
 2,810
 120
 95


 Fife
 13,324
 8,564
 184
 181


 Forth Valley
 9,760
 4,754
 333
 272


 Grampian
 21,848
 6,898
 666
 393


 Greater Glasgow
 40,432
 17,012
 871
 522


 Highland
 9,343
 2,934
 339
 228


 Lanarkshire
 22,923
 13,033
 652
 427


 Lothian
 27,408
 15,288
 534
 390


 Orkney Islands
 751
 178
 16
 0


 Shetland Islands
 886
 273
 29
 12


 Tayside
 16,240
 7,536
 170
 117


 Western Isles
 1,393
 370
 37
 19


 Scotland
 208,127
 97,527
 4,896
 4,028


 31-Mar-00
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,812
 8,012
 605
 1,111


 Ayrshire and Arran
 14,428
 8,676
 422
 436


 Borders
 4,270
 2,027
 75
 50


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,040
 3,337
 149
 177


 Fife
 12,969
 8,131
 153
 172


 Forth Valley
 9,632
 5,632
 323
 327


 Grampian
 21,951
 7,468
 624
 426


 Greater Glasgow
 40,080
 18,142
 1,328
 506


 Highland
 9,327
 2,925
 325
 227


 Lanarkshire
 21,978
 13,180
 786
 522


 Lothian
 27,954
 16,272
 567
 531


 Orkney Islands
 695
 160
 17
 2


 Shetland Islands
 813
 335
 40
 10


 Tayside
 15,411
 7,191
 105
 100


 Western Isles
 1,383
 432
 37
 34


 Scotland
 204,743
 101,920
 5,556
 4,631


 30-Jun-00
 Argyll and Clyde
 18,204
 7,903
 597
 1,138


 Ayrshire and Arran
 14,950
 8,295
 413
 314


 Borders
 4,374
 2,287
 63
 52


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,053
 3,137
 147
 160


 Fife
 13,542
 8,832
 211
 176


 Forth Valley
 9,876
 5,741
 285
 263


 Grampian
 21,468
 7,125
 520
 393


 Greater Glasgow
 39,879
 17,562
 1,299
 393


 Highland
 9,424
 3,141
 304
 218


 Lanarkshire
 21,371
 12,237
 811
 487


 Lothian
 27,244
 15,417
 509
 541


 Orkney Islands
 749
 265
 11
 0


 Shetland Islands
 919
 313
 31
 18


 Tayside
 15,626
 7,369
 130
 103


 Western Isles
 1,404
 446
 30
 21


 Scotland
 205,083
 100,070
 5,361
 4,277


 30-Sep-00
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,383
 7,606
 580
 954


 Ayrshire and Arran
 14,464
 8,908
 440
 298


 Borders
 4,151
 2,039
 67
 47


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,709
 3,074
 125
 126


 Fife
 13,077
 9,134
 193
 211


 Forth Valley
 9,826
 5,470
 312
 291


 Grampian
 20,793
 7,229
 488
 476


 Greater Glasgow
 39,545
 17,030
 1,400
 525


 Highland
 9,241
 3,220
 373
 259


 Lanarkshire
 20,671
 11,206
 791
 528


 Lothian
 26,399
 15,401
 437
 497


 Orkney Islands
 742
 270
 10
 1


 Shetland Islands
 936
 296
 28
 11


 Tayside
 15,494
 7,845
 137
 165


 Western Isles
 1,391
 455
 28
 34


 Scotland
 199,822
 99,183
 5,409
 4,423


 31-Dec-00
 Argyll and Clyde
 18,224
 7,688
 592
 1,039


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,128
 9,253
 431
 382


 Borders
 4,263
 2,285
 73
 53


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,118
 2,868
 119
 136


 Fife
 13,172
 9,413
 167
 227


 Forth Valley
 9,967
 5,692
 270
 274


 Grampian
 20,963
 7,102
 490
 397


 Greater Glasgow
 40,517
 17,789
 1,328
 587


 Highland
 9,162
 2,930
 333
 283


 Lanarkshire
 21,634
 12,408
 713
 655


 Lothian
 28,204
 15,245
 470
 526


 Orkney Islands
 759
 221
 20
 1


 Shetland Islands
 953
 289
 32
 14


 Tayside
 15,642
 8,340
 155
 180


 Western Isles
 1,337
 414
 24
 31


 Scotland
 206,043
 101,937
 5,217
 4,785


 31-Mar-01
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,557
 8,004
 527
 1,229


 Ayrshire and Arran
 14,983
 9,958
 502
 506


 Borders
 4,227
 2,137
 67
 65


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,233
 3,365
 187
 163


 Fife
 13,178
 9,489
 202
 253


 Forth Valley
 9,960
 5,896
 252
 276


 Grampian
 20,922
 7,455
 479
 485


 Greater Glasgow
 40,705
 18,946
 1,245
 612


 Highland
 9,192
 3,092
 323
 265


 Lanarkshire
 23,597
 12,633
 783
 589


 Lothian
 28,549
 15,190
 461
 543


 Orkney Islands
 711
 218
 10
 1


 Shetland Islands
 953
 321
 23
 16


 Tayside
 15,869
 7,996
 148
 191


 Western Isles
 1,433
 458
 35
 26


 Scotland
 208,069
 105,158
 5,244
 5,220


 30-Jun-01
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,698
 8,066
 560
 1,064


 Ayrshire and Arran
 14,994
 8,989
 374
 470


 Borders
 4,298
 2,163
 60
 72


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,160
 2,920
 130
 129


 Fife
 13,135
 8,870
 147
 246


 Forth Valley
 10,012
 6,244
 265
 230


 Grampian
 20,585
 6,715
 402
 343


 Greater Glasgow
 40,955
 17,410
 1,417
 526


 Highland
 9,359
 3,074
 279
 236


 Lanarkshire
 23,260
 11,295
 689
 512


 Lothian
 27,483
 13,779
 421
 447


 Orkney Islands
 770
 232
 14
 3


 Shetland Islands
 991
 413
 19
 34


 Tayside
 15,776
 5,734
 152
 143


 Western Isles
 1,453
 461
 35
 28


 Scotland
 206,929
 96,365
 4,964
 4,483


 30-Sep-01
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,223
 8,231
 565
 1,078


 Ayrshire and Arran
 14,602
 8,466
 454
 503


 Borders
 4,086
 2,144
 65
 70


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,876
 2,949
 102
 157


 Fife
 12,634
 8,313
 167
 234


 Forth Valley
 9,599
 6,260
 333
 280


 Grampian
 20,486
 6,587
 498
 373


 Greater Glasgow
 40,305
 17,412
 1,375
 549


 Highland
 9,002
 3,127
 328
 239


 Lanarkshire
 23,531
 11,031
 680
 498


 Lothian
 26,917
 13,002
 466
 456


 Orkney Islands
 748
 220
 9
 3


 Shetland Islands
 988
 309
 38
 30


 Tayside
 15,022
 5,551
 140
 116


 Western Isles
 1,405
 444
 39
 29


 Scotland
 202,424
 94,046
 5,259
 4,615


 31-Dec-01
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,808
 8,134
 622
 1,174


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,506
 8,872
 385
 516


 Borders
 4,440
 2,254
 44
 56


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,174
 3,064
 116
 145


 Fife
 13,373
 8,447
 173
 200


 Forth Valley
 9,762
 6,145
 296
 265


 Grampian
 21,100
 6,006
 478
 328


 Greater Glasgow
 41,503
 17,689
 1,313
 492


 Highland
 9,473
 3,201
 329
 274


 Lanarkshire
 25,213
 12,359
 688
 528


 Lothian
 27,431
 13,136
 444
 482


 Orkney Islands
 720
 218
 13
 4


 Shetland Islands
 1,015
 295
 44
 24


 Tayside
 15,498
 5,838
 154
 116


 Western Isles
 1,443
 466
 39
 49


 Scotland
 210,459
 96,124
 5,138
 4,653


 31-Mar-02
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,502
 8,316
 578
 811


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,201
 8,887
 404
 539


 Borders
 4,430
 2,007
 65
 52


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,138
 2,728
 154
 149


 Fife
 13,204
 8,486
 167
 174


 Forth Valley
 9,351
 6,264
 269
 231


 Grampian
 20,723
 5,543
 470
 302


 Greater Glasgow
 40,544
 17,783
 1,350
 552


 Highland
 9,529
 3,240
 322
 244


 Lanarkshire
 24,807
 12,990
 581
 598


 Lothian
 26,585
 12,920
 353
 399


 Orkney Islands
 857
 230
 15
 3


 Shetland Islands
 938
 383
 41
 68


 Tayside
 15,533
 6,413
 132
 188


 Western Isles
 1,472
 544
 51
 42


 Scotland
 206,814
 96,734
 4,952
 4,352


 30-Jun-02
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,959
 7,818
 611
 415


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,017
 8,228
 372
 479


 Borders
 4,349
 1,576
 70
 47


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,842
 1,947
 131
 100


 Fife
 12,921
 8,006
 149
 182


 Forth Valley
 9,328
 5,944
 277
 196


 Grampian
 20,529
 4,998
 439
 231


 Greater Glasgow
 40,325
 16,720
 1,256
 486


 Highland
 9,279
 3,255
 262
 264


 Lanarkshire
 25,220
 11,033
 567
 425


 Lothian
 25,952
 12,060
 346
 407


 Orkney Islands
 917
 229
 16
 1


 Shetland Islands
 941
 377
 60
 49


 Tayside
 14,823
 5,208
 132
 167


 Western Isles
 1,547
 462
 51
 36


 Scotland
 204,949
 87,861
 4,739
 3,485


 30-Sep-02
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,559
 7,608
 487
 392


 Ayrshire and Arran
 14,918
 7,863
 394
 508


 Borders
 4,309
 1,685
 61
 45


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,922
 2,229
 154
 138


 Fife
 12,713
 7,655
 147
 150


 Forth Valley
 9,093
 5,945
 263
 197


 Grampian
 20,410
 5,003
 427
 240


 Greater Glasgow
 39,571
 17,552
 1,258
 518


 Highland
 9,199
 3,164
 234
 247


 Lanarkshire
 24,591
 11,360
 511
 380


 Lothian
 24,917
 11,692
 317
 363


 Orkney Islands
 904
 210
 28
 3


 Shetland Islands
 922
 304
 46
 37


 Tayside
 14,793
 5,440
 125
 167


 Western Isles
 1,552
 485
 27
 37


 Scotland
 201,373
 88,195
 4,479
 3,422


 31-Dec-02
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,773
 8,117
 547
 326


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,537
 7,812
 366
 466


 Borders
 4,615
 1,752
 65
 55


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,949
 2,228
 136
 119


 Fife
 12,761
 7,447
 159
 167


 Forth Valley
 9,392
 5,777
 250
 207


 Grampian
 20,756
 5,002
 426
 247


 Greater Glasgow
 39,616
 17,245
 1,154
 445


 Highland
 9,399
 3,382
 192
 238


 Lanarkshire
 25,608
 12,397
 432
 365


 Lothian
 25,690
 12,109
 312
 281


 Orkney Islands
 876
 251
 17
 8


 Shetland Islands
 930
 320
 28
 49


 Tayside
 15,253
 5,549
 110
 167


 Western Isles
 1,482
 495
 31
 24


 Scotland
 205,637
 89,883
 4,225
 3,164


 31-Mar-03
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,421
 8,376
 371
 189


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,152
 8,037
 212
 178


 Borders
 4,245
 1,758
 63
 28


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,600
 2,267
 75
 61


 Fife
 12,769
 7,887
 148
 164


 Forth Valley
 9,059
 5,886
 111
 93


 Grampian
 21,138
 5,006
 319
 177


 Greater Glasgow
 38,014
 17,728
 830
 193


 Highland
 9,264
 3,210
 165
 199


 Lanarkshire
 25,150
 12,345
 249
 155


 Lothian
 25,337
 12,370
 172
 179


 Orkney Islands
 890
 225
 8
 1


 Shetland Islands
 889
 326
 23
 14


 Tayside
 15,211
 5,680
 87
 70


 Western Isles
 1,425
 456
 26
 27


 Scotland
 201,564
 91,557
 2,859
 1,728


 30-Jun-03
 Argyll and Clyde
 17,225
 8,074
 0
 0


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,407
 7,800
 0
 0


 Borders
 4,408
 1,701
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,354
 2,143
 0
 0


 Fife
 11,730
 7,409
 0
 0


 Forth Valley
 9,333
 3,570
 0
 0


 Grampian
 22,163
 4,970
 0
 0


 Greater Glasgow
 37,294
 16,869
 0
 0


 Highland
 9,830
 3,569
 0
 0


 Lanarkshire
 24,375
 11,396
 0
 0


 Lothian
 25,484
 11,850
 0
 0


 Orkney Islands
 973
 243
 0
 0


 Shetland Islands
 941
 330
 0
 0


 Tayside
 15,459
 5,906
 0
 0


 Western Isles
 1,575
 482
 0
 0


 Scotland
 201,551
 86,312
 0
 0


 30-Sep-031
 Argyll and Clyde
 13,574
 6,842
 0
 0


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15,679
 7,831
 0
 0


 Borders
 4,322
 1,464
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,013
 2,030
 0
 0


 Fife
 10,904
 7,306
 0
 0


 Forth Valley
 9,371
 3,445
 0
 0


 Grampian
 20,335
 4,061
 0
 0


 Greater Glasgow
 35,000
 16,557
 0
 0


 Highland
 9,823
 3,535
 0
 0


 Lanarkshire
 24,159
 11,872
 0
 0


 Lothian
 21,555
 12,116
 0
 0


 Orkney Islands
 954
 255
 0
 0


 Shetland Islands
 969
 380
 0
 0


 Tayside
 15,132
 6,005
 0
 0


 Western Isles
 1,593
 513
 0
 0


 Scotland
 188,383
 84,212
 0
 0



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR01.

  Note:

  1. Due to the transactional nature of the SMR01 central database, i.e. records are continually being added, information for the most recent quarters should be regarded as provisional. Information for the quarter ending 30 September 2003 is based on an estimated 91% of records.

Health

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance or funding is available to ensure that medical services have access to land and property in areas where land and property prices are escalating.

Malcolm Chisholm: Capital funds are allocated to NHSScotland bodies using the Arbuthnott formula adjusted for cross boundary patient flows and weighted to reflect the provision of specialist/ tertiary services. This is considered to be an appropriate and equitable method for distributing capital resources. Thereafter it is for NHSScotland bodies to decide locally how best to utilise these funds to meet the healthcare needs of the population served, taking into account both national and local priorities.

  No specific allowance is made in this formula for the level or trend of land and property prices in health board areas.

  When considering the re-provision of healthcare services it is for NHS boards to identify a wide range of options including different locations and to undertake a financial appraisal to demonstrate that the new accommodation is affordable. Scottish ministers can assist by using compulsory purchase powers when clearly necessary in the public interest and the identified property cannot be acquired by agreement.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the annual medical check-up for over-75s will be included in the new GP contract.

Malcolm Chisholm: Yes. The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004, which came into effect on 1 April, provide that all patients aged 75 or over are entitled to a consultation with a general practitioner each year.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of administering the points system under the Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 will be, in light of the commitment to ascertain this information given by its Senior Medical Officer to the Finance Committee on 2 September 2003.

Malcolm Chisholm: The new General Medical Services contract took effect from 1 April 2004. As part of the implementation process a national reference group and working groups were set up to look at the key issues such as Finance and the Quality and Outcomes Framework. This work is still ongoing and as such, it is too early to say what the costs of administering the quality system will be.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to continue Minimum Practice Income Guarantee provision beyond 2006.

Malcolm Chisholm: Provision of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee (MPIG) was agreed as part of the UK-wide negotiations on the new General Medical Services contract. Funding for the contract is in place for 2003-04 to 2005-06. Further negotiations will be held on a UK-basis in relation to the period beyond 2006. Such negotiations will, I am sure, include discussion of MPIG arrangements and I am not in a position to pre-judge the outcome of these discussions.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8205 by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 May 2004, what information it holds centrally in respect of the number of NHSScotland patients treated outwith the United Kingdom.

Malcolm Chisholm: There is no central repository of information on Scottish residents treated outwith the United Kingdom.

Hepatitis C

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the establishment of the Skipton Fund.

Malcolm Chisholm: I would refer you to the answer given to S2F-849 on 29 April 2004 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search.

Historic Buildings

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that local authorities protect the built heritage.

Mr Frank McAveety: Local authorities have an important role to play in protecting the historic environment. They have a range of powers available to them to ensure the protection of the built heritage in their area. For example, they have a duty under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 to determine which parts of their area have special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance and to designate such areas as conservation areas.

  Under the 1997 act, they also deal with listed building and conservation area consent applications and have a general duty to have special regard to the desirability of preserving listed buildings or their settings or any features of special architectural or historic interest which they possess. Similar duties apply in respect of planning applications that affect scheduled monuments.

  The Scottish Executive, through Historic Scotland, works closely with local authorities to offer advice and support to staff in respect of protecting the historic environment. The Memorandum of Guidance on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas sets out government policy in this area and local authorities are directed to it.

  I have asked the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland for their independent advice on the role of local authorities in conserving the historic environment.

Historic Buildings

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that historic buildings in private ownership do not become a danger to the public.

Mr Frank McAveety: There is no legal obligation on the owner of a historic building to keep it in good repair. However, there are statutory powers under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 which permit a planning authority and Scottish ministers to take action where the condition of a listed building becomes a cause for concern. These powers allow them to carry out urgent works to preserve listed buildings (and, in certain circumstances, unoccupied unlisted buildings within conservation areas) and to serve repairs notices. Works which may be promoted and carried out under these powers are restricted to those that will make the building structurally secure and wind and watertight. If following the serving of a notice the repairs are not carried out, there are powers under the at to compulsorily acquire buildings at risk for repair.

  Any building, whether listed or within a conservation area or not, which is deemed by the local building authority to be a danger to the public, may become the subject of a Dangerous Buildings Notice under the Building (Scotland) Acts.

Housing

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new-build housing units were completed in the social rented sector in each local authority area in each of the last five years and how many completions are expected on the same basis this year.

Ms Margaret Curran: The numbers of new build dwellings for the social rented sector completed between 1998-99 and 2002-03 are shown in the following table. Data on completions for 2003-04 will be available in July 2004.

  House Building Completions in the Social Rented Sector: 1998-99 to 2002-03

  

 
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03


 Aberdeen City
 0
 85
 91
 167
 114


 Aberdeenshire
 43
 172
 25
 183
 160


 Angus
 107
 131
 131
 36
 107


 Argyll and Bute
 178
 39
 131
 54
 0


 Clackmannanshire
 19
 21
 16
 44
 28


 Dumfries and Galloway
 86
 38
 57
 178
 60


 Dundee City
 135
 105
 114
 317
 91


 East Ayrshire
 30
 20
 0
 60
 36


 East Dunbartonshire
 9
 15
 16
 49
 0


 East Lothian
 31
 86
 46
 27
 0


 East Renfrewshire
 28
 88
 30
 41
 30


 Edinburgh City of
 115
 529
 295
 400
 288


 Eilean Siar
 18
 0
 21
 20
 13


 Falkirk
 0
 59
 14
 45
 81


 Fife
 35
 377
 132
 190
 151


 Glasgow City
 275
 598
 1,012
 972
 956


 Highland
 72
 75
 137
 127
 133


 Inverclyde
 125
 42
 152
 101
 69


 Midlothian
 30
 32
 44
 12
 31


 Moray
 17
 32
 8
 1
 26


 North Ayrshire
 47
 59
 87
 13
 76


 North Lanarkshire
 39
 258
 178
 189
 237


 Orkney
 22
 1
 14
 35
 23


 Perth and Kinross
 46
 142
 166
 148
 112


 Renfrewshire
 36
 45
 163
 138
 136


 Scottish Borders The
 115
 74
 79
 61
 58


 Shetland
 12
 36
 0
 16
 13


 South Ayrshire
 12
 57
 61
 64
 163


 South Lanarkshire
 0
 59
 101
 138
 162


 Stirling
 14
 14
 59
 16
 78


 West Dunbartonshire
 136
 52
 169
 146
 116


 West Lothian
 42
 143
 57
 128
 50


 Scotland
 1,874
 3,484
 3,606
 4,116
 3,598



  Source: Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics) and Communities Scotland.

  Note:

  Figures include new build by local authorities and housing associations for the rental sector.

Housing (Scotland) Act 2001

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will exercise its power under section 7 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and publish regulations to establish minimum rights for homeless people living in hostels and other types of short-term accommodation.

Ms Margaret Curran: We will publish draft regulations later this year.

Justice

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people from ethnic minority groups have been (a) charged and (b) convicted as a result of stop-and-searches in each of the last five years, broken down by ethnic group.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally. Scottish forces started recording the ethnicity of persons subject to stop and search or stop and interview on 1 April 2004.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which parts of the Livestock Improvement Scheme did not comply with state aid rules.

Allan Wilson: It is not individual parts of the Livestock Improvement Schemes but rather the schemes as a whole which cause concerns in respect of compliance with state aid rules. For the reasons why they cause those concerns I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34908 on 28 March 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place a copy of the legal advice it received in regard to the Livestock Improvement Scheme, referred to by the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs during the members’ business debate on 19 May 2004, in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments made by the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs in the members’ business debate on the Livestock Improvement Scheme on 19 May 2004 that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) legal advice is "categorical" ( Official Report col. 8580, 19 May 2004), whether that advice will be published and, if the advice is not to be published, whether the Executive will provide a comprehensive statement of the conclusions reached.

Allan Wilson: I am not prepared to divulge the terms of the legal advice to Scottish ministers and I am unable to provide the legal advice obtained by DEFRA. However, I am willing to clarify the position as follows:

  State aids to agriculture are governed by the Community guidelines for state aid in the Agricultural Sector (2000/C 28/02). These guidelines indicated what aids to agriculture are permitted. As a general rule, the UK operates on the basis that what is not permitted is prohibited. The guidelines came into effect on 1 January 2000 and incorporated changes from previous guidelines. Member states were instructed to end or modify and re-notify state aids which did not comply with the new guidelines.

  It will be apparent from the guidelines that they do not specifically provide for schemes operating in the way that the Bull Hire Scheme and the Ram Purchase Scheme operate. Nevertheless, it is possible to obtain approval for schemes which are not within the range of arrangements envisaged provided these are consistent with the general requirements governing what is permitted. However, in the case of the Livestock Improvement Schemes there are two requirements of the guidelines that the schemes cannot meet. Firstly the guidelines prohibit operating aids (paragraph 3.5 of the guidelines) and the Livestock Improvement Schemes which provide assistance without any requirement on the recipients to provide evidence of any outcome or output are bound to be seen as an operating aid which are simply intended to improve the financial situation of the producer. Secondly the guidelines are specific about the level of assistance which may be given (see paragraphs 3.10 and 4.1.1.8 of the guidelines). On the basis of that requirement the maximum level of assistance that would be eligible would be 50% of costs in the Less Favoured Area and 40% elsewhere.

  The provisions of section 16 of the guidelines do not apply as the highlands and islands do not qualify as outermost regions for that purpose.

Livestock

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the Scottish Allocation Formula takes adequate account of rurality, and, in particular, the costs of providing out-of-hours cover in rural areas such as the highlands.

Malcolm Chisholm: As part of the UK-wide agreement over the new General Medical Services contract, we successfully negotiated a separate Scottish Allocation Formula to address particular issues such as remoteness and rurality. The formula is used to allocate practices global sums. It is not used to allocate funding for out-of-hours cover. This will come from the increased Out-of-Hours Development Fund and from the 6% of global sum payments which practices give over to NHS boards should they decide to transfer this out-of-hours responsibility.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 20 March 2004 to the Minister for Transport regarding the A90 junction with the unclassified Gask Road, south of Longhaven.

Nicol Stephen: I replied to your letter on 21 May 2004.

NHS Hospitals

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have used the in-patient facilities at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital in each of the last five years.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much NHS Greater Glasgow has received from other NHS boards in each of the last five years for patients using the Centre for Integrative Care at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Centre for Integrative Care at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital has cost to run in each of the last five years.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative use is planned by NHS Greater Glasgow of the in-patient facilities at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital in the event of the closure of the in-patient unit and how much it will cost to adapt the facilities for such purposes.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. This information is not held centrally.

NHS Hospitals

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much NHS Greater Glasgow expects will be saved (a) in total and (b) by NHS Greater Glasgow through the closure of the Centre for Integrative Care at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital.

Malcolm Chisholm: These are matters for NHS Greater Glasgow.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive why, in respect of Stobhill Hospital, the designation "Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Unit" (ACAD) has been changed to "Ambulatory Care Hospital".

Malcolm Chisholm: In the first instance this is an issue for NHS Greater Glasgow. They advise me that because the concept of an "ACAD" is new in Scotland, they have been looking for a suitable name for the facilities which adequately reflected the full range of services that will be offered. They considered that this was better reflected in the term "hospital" than "unit".

NHS Hospitals

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether investment in Stobhill Hospital’s Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Unit has increased and, if so, by how much; whether there are any plans to maintain (a) general medical, (b) surgical, (c) intensive care and (d) coronary care units at the Stobhill campus, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow.

  (i) The initial brief for the Stobhill Ambulatory Care Hospital was to refurbish the existing 30-year-old theatre complex and adjoining day surgery unit to increase day surgery capacity. After consultation with professional advisers it was agreed that the best day surgery solution for patients would be the integration of new day surgery theatres and endoscopy facilities into the Ambulatory Care Hospital, thus ensuring that day surgery patients similarly benefit from access to new facilities. They advise me that they will be investing approximately £83 million in the new hospital.

  (ii) Any proposals to move named services from Stobhill over the five year commitment period would require to go out to public consultation, and would then have to come to myself for final approval.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to carry out endoscopic procedures and day surgery at Stobhill Hospital following implementation of the acute services review.

Malcolm Chisholm: In the first instance this is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. I understand that NHS Greater Glasgow propose to carry out endoscopic procedures and day surgery at the new Ambulatory Care Hospital on the Stobhill site.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has that people who use Stobhill Hospital as a general medical hospital will be safer and better served by the acceleration of the acute services review and the closure of the hospital’s casualty department.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. They advise that the pressures on the current service mean that it is unsustainable and that in the interests of patients it is necessary to develop an alternative model of care for acute receiving within north-east Glasgow.

Non-Domestic Rates

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it can give that, in the forthcoming revaluation of non-domestic business rates, properties valued with reference to cost will be assessed in such a way as to ensure a like-for-like valuation with comparable premises in England.

Mr Andy Kerr: The valuation of non-domestic property in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Assessors. The Scottish Assessors liaise with their counterparts in England and Wales – the Valuation Office Agency – to ensure harmonisation of valuation treatment north and south of the Border, where practical.

Ophthalmic Services

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether free eye tests will be provided by every optometrist and, if so, how much the cost of each test will be to the Executive.

Mr Tom McCabe: As currently, only those optometrists/ophthalmic medical practitioners on NHS board lists will provide free NHS eye checks. Discussions on implementation of free eye checks are ongoing with the optometric profession.

Planning

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the principle reasons were for not calling in the planning application for the development of a landfill site at Aucheninnes Moss and, in particular, what consideration ministers gave to any (a) negative biodiversity impacts, (b) related mitigation measures proposed by the developers and (c) advice from independent organisations regarding the viability of mitigation measures.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish ministers assessed the planning application against the provisions of the development plan and relevant national planning policies and were satisfied that there were no outstanding planning issues which would justify their intervention. Ministers took account of the fact that Aucheninnes is an existing landfill facility, with full planning permission which would allow Dumfries and Galloway Council to continue to operate the site if they so wished, and that it is regulated by a detailed waste management licence issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

  Ministers also noted that the proposed scheme would improve the site through engineering works to control leachates, and that planning conditions would ensure that the completed site is to be restored to a high standard. Furthermore, the Aucheninnes proposal is consistent with the area waste plan for Dumfries and Galloway, which has been the subject of widespread consultation. Ministers accepted the professional advice of Scottish Natural Heritage on ecological matters relating to the area, including the proposed habitat management plan for the site, and also took account of all representations made by individuals and independent bodies.

Planning

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the planning application by South Lanarkshire Council and the private operator, Dignity, for the construction of a crematorium at Sydes Braes in Blantyre.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: All the relevant papers relating to this planning application were received by the Scottish ministers on 1 June and these are currently being considered. It is not possible to say, at this early stage, when a decision will be reached. The Scottish mnisters’ target for dealing with such applications is 28 days, but this period can be extended if required.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7832 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 May 2004, when it expects these points to be recorded and against which quarter.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  We expect these to be recorded at the next quarterly meeting against quarter 2 of 2004.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7832 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 May 2004, how the penalty sum will be imposed if the recording of these points results in the quarterly baseline total being exceeded.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  As the performance related deduction for the performance quarter concerned has already been capped, no further deduction will be made.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1869 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 September 2003, why the baseline total for the calculation of payment for services at HM Prison Kilmarnock has been increased.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  In accordance with the contract, the baseline figures are increased proportionately to reflect the Additional Prisoner Places provided.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any performance revenue deductions have been applied to payments for services at HM Prison Kilmarnock in each quarter in which the baseline totals were exceeded.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-7756 on 7 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how any HM Treasury guidelines on commercial confidentiality have been applied to Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock .

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service does not receive any such guidelines from HM Treasury.

Schools

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the funding specified in its draft budget 2004-05 for the Spark Project and the additional cost of teachers in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06 will go towards ICT.

Peter Peacock: Procurement of the intranet element of the Scottish Schools Digital Network (formerly known as Spark) is currently under way, and it would not be appropriate to disclose the budget.

  The costs of this will be met from within a budget of £0 in 2003-04, £29 million in 2004-05 and £49 million in 2005-06 which also covers the costs of teacher training and induction programmes as we build towards the 53,000 teachers to which we are committed in Partnership for a Better Scotland.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7990 by Mr Andy Kerr on 27 May 2004, how much was spent on external consultancy in each department and agency in each of the last five years.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information for 2002-03 and 2003-04 as recorded on the Scottish Executive’s finance and accounting system, reflecting standard guidance on the definition of consultancy applied across the United Kingdom, is set out in the table. It is not possible to provide such detailed information for earlier years, before the Scottish Executive’s new accounting system was introduced.

  

 Department/Agency
 2002-03
 2003-04



Scottish Executive
  
  



Corporate Services
 306,090
 378,494



Finance and Central Services Dept
 584,301
 173,764



Education Dept
 88,892
 175,930



Development Dept
 132,516
 2,199



Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Dept
 142,179
 550



Health Dept
 60,177
 28,557



Justice Dept
 129,997
 50,102



Environment and Rural Affairs Dept
 103,319
 108,177


 Scottish Public Pensions Agency
 132,020
 10,064


 Student Awards Agency for Scotland
 338
 1,145


 Scottish Agricultural Science 
  Agency
 15,689
 5,720


 Fisheries Research Services
 33,274
 217,646


 Scottish Fisheries Protection 
  Agency
 91,596
 51,103


 Scottish Courts Service
 145,626
 242,826


 Mental Welfare Commission
  
 15,803


 HM Inspectorate of Education
 10,856
  


 General Register Office for 
  Scotland
 113501
 141,387


 National Archives of Scotland
  
 23,832


  
 2,090,371
 1,627,299

Student Finance

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government regarding any concerns over the impact of forthcoming changes in child tax credit arrangements for student parents in Scotland in 2004-05.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the interface between student support and the benefits system.

Teacher Training

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is required to provide PGCE training for a secondary teacher of (a) mathematics, (b) English, (c) Gaelic, (d) Gaelic-medium (any subject), (e) technological education, (f) French and German, (g) physics, (h) home economics, (i) computing, (j) art, (k) religious education, (I) chemistry, (m) music, (n) physical education, (o) geography, (p) drama, (q) other modern languages, (r) biology, (s) history, (t) business studies and (u) modern studies.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive funds PGCE teacher training places through the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). The SHEFC makes no distinction in funding levels for different PGCE subjects. For 2004-05, SHEFC has allocated funding of £6,435 to institutions for each PGCE place, inclusive of the £1,150 fee payable for undergraduate courses. This figure excludes the cost of student support provided by SAAS.

Water Charges

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13417 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 28 February 2001, what percentage of the 15,000 organisations identified have benefited from the Executive’s water charges exemption scheme and what action the Executive will now take to address the position of charities that fail to gain relief under that scheme.

Ross Finnie: The regulations which established the exemption scheme The Water and Sewerage Charges (Exemption) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 require Scottish Water to administer the scheme. Data relating to the operation of the scheme is therefore a matter for Scottish Water.

  The exemption scheme was created to assist organisations that had been in receipt of discretionary relief on their water and sewerage charges and were likely to be most affected by the withdrawal of that relief. The Executive considers that the criteria for qualifying for exemption are set appropriately with that objective in mind. Therefore there are no proposals to change the criteria.

Wildlife

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive,  further to the answer to question S2W-8346 by Ross Finnie on 2 June 2004, whether it will make the report on the culls in Glenfeshie public and, if so, when.

Ross Finnie: The report on Glenfeshie was made public on Thursday 10 June and is available on the Scottish Executive website. A copy has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32930).